Folding child&#39;s carriage.



A. T. WANNENWETSCH. FOLDING GHILDS CARRIAGE;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1912.

1,076,087, Patented 001;. 21, 1913.

3 SHEETB-SHEET l.

A. 1'. W ANNENWETSGH.

FOLDING GHILDS CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1912.

1 0'76 087. Patented 0ct. 21,1913. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,,WASHINU'ION, 04 c4 A. T. WANNENWETSOH.

FOLDING GHILDS CARRIAGE.

API PLIOATION FILED JUNEB, 1912. 1 07 037, Patented 001;. 21, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I a 77 ifirefsy COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0-.WASH|NOTON. Ii c ANDREW T.WANNENWETSCH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CHILDS CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

Application filed June 8, 1912. Serial N 0. 702,400.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW T. WANNEN- wnTsoH,a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inFolding Childrens Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a folding childs carriage which is so designedthat when folded it will have the general appearance of a'traveling bagor satchel but which can be readily and quickly unfolded so as to serveas a carriage for transporting a child.

It is the object of this invention to provide a childs carriage of thischaracter which is comparatively light and simple in construction andwhich can be readily unfolded for use or folded for transportation.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 3 sheets: Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved childs carriage showing the same foldedinto the form of a traveling bag or satchel when the same is not in useand in condition to be carried in the hands. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal sect-ion of the folded carriage taken in line 22, Fig. 5.Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the same line but showing the partsunfolded. Fig. at is a front elevation of the carriage unfolded and oneof the side compartments shown in section. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan viewof the carriage in its folded condition. Fig. 6 is a verticallongitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken in line 66, Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in line 7-7, Fig. 4.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, taken in line 88,Fig. 5 and showing the carriage in its folded condition. Fig. 9 is afragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken in line 99,Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, taken in line1010, Fig. 9.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The body of this carriage comprises a horizontal lower Section or bottom1, 'two upright longitudinal end sections 2, 2 projecting upwardly fromopposite ends of the bottom, a front section 3 adapted to extend acrossthe front of the space between the end sections, a rear section 4adapted to extend across the rear of the space between the end sectionsand top sections 5, 6 adapted to extend across the space between the endsections and front and rear sections at the upper edges of the latter sothat in the folded condition of these members of the body an inclosedcompartment will be formed between the same in which parts of thecarriage are stowed away as will presently appear when the carriage isfolded.

The bottom of the body is constructed to form an upper receptacle 7 anda lower receptacle or pocket 8. The upper side of the upper receptacleis constructed to form a seat 9 which is hinged at its rear edge to thebody so that the seat may be raised for rendering this upper receptacleaccessible when it is desired to stow in the same toilet articles,clothing and the like. The lower compartment or pocket of the bottomsection is open on its underside and is adapted to receive part of therunning gear of the carriage whereby the same may be rolled about on theground or floor in the manner which will be hereinafter described.

The front section 3 of the body is pivoted at its lower edge by hinges10 to the bottom section so that the same can either be swung upwardlyinto an upright position for folding the carriage, as shown in Fig. 8,or the same can be swung forwardly and downwardly into an inclinedposit-ion so that the same forms the leg rest of the carriage. At itsouter or free edge the leg rest or front body section is provided withthe laterally projecting front top section 5 which forms a foot rest forthe child seated in the carriage and also forms the front part of thetop of the body when the carriage is folded.

The rear body section 4 is pivotally connected at its lower edge withthe rear edge of the bottom section by means of hinges 11 so that thisrear section may be either swung forwardly into an upright position forfolding the carriage, as shown in Fig. 8, or the same may be swungrearwardly into an inclined position, as shown in Fig.7, so as to form aback rest for the child seated in the carriage. The rear section 6 ofthe top is pivoted at its rear edge by means of hinges 12 to the upperedge of the back rest or rear wall section so that the same may beeither swung downwardly and forwardly into a substantially horizontalposition, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the same forms together with thefront upper section a closure for the space in the upper part of thebody when the carriage is folded, or this upper rear part 6 may be swungupwardly and rearwardly into an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 7,so as to serve as a head rest for the child seated in the carriage.

As shown in Figs. at, 7 and 8 the inner sides of the bottom, frontsection, rear section and the rear part of the top are cushioned orupholstered so as to render the child seated in the same morecomfortable. lVhen the front and rear body sections and the front andrear parts of the top are closed or folded the same are held in thisposition by fastening means which may be of any suitable constructionthose shown in the drawings consisting of two catches 13 applied to thecooperating edges of the front and rear parts of the top. Forconvenience in carrying the folded. carriage the outer side of the rearpart of the top is provided with a handle 14. which is preferablyconstructed similar to that usually found on traveling bags or grips.

Various means may be employed for holding the leg and foot rest and theback and head rests in their proper position when the carriage unfoldedfor use but those shown in the drawings are suitable and constructed asfollows: 15, 15 represent two upright side bars arranged at oppositevertical edges of the leg rest and each connected at its lower or outeredge with the adjacent end of the foot rest while its inner end isconnected with the leg rest adjacent to the hinged edge of the leg rest,thereby forming side guards or rails which prevent the legs of the childfrom slipping sidewise off the leg rest. At opposite ends of the seatare arranged two collapsible retaining bars each of which consists oftwo sections 16, 17 which are slidably connected with each other attheir opposing ends while their opposite extremities are connectedrespectively with a part of the foot and leg rest and with a part on theback rest. As shown in the drawings, the front section 16 of eachcollapsible bar is pivoted at its front end to the inner part of theadjacent side bar 15 while the rear end of the rear section of thiscollapsible bar is pivotally connected with the adjacent vertical edgeof the back rest near the lower hinge thereof, as shown at 18 in Figs. 7and 8. The slidable connection between the two sections of eachcollapsible retaining bar is preferably effected by providing each ofthese bars with a longitudinal slot 19 which receives a guide pin 19 onthe other slotted bar. The front section of each collapsible bar ispreferably bent downwardly, shown at 20, and in the unfolded position ofthe carriage the front sections of the collapsible retaining bars restupon the front part of the seat, as shown in Fig. 7. By this means theback rest and the parts connected therewith and the leg and foot restsare held reliably in their unfolded position when the carriage is readyfor use, as shown in Fig. 7, but the foot and leg rests and the back andhead rests may be swung upwardly toward each other into their foldedposition, as shown in Fig. 8.

The head rest may be held in place in its unfolded position by variousmeans but preferably by the means which are shown in the drawings whichhave been found suitable and which comprte a brace 21 pivoted at itslower end to one of the vertical edges of the back rest while its upperend is provided with a pin 22 which slides in a slot formed in theadjacent vertical edge of the head rest, as shown in Fig. 3. hen thehead rest is unfolded the sliding pin of the brace 22 is arranged at thelower end of the slot 23, as shown in Fig. 8, but when the head rest isfolded relatively to the back rest said pin slides toward the oppositeend of this slot, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8.

The handle whereby the carriage is operated may also be made in variousways but that shown in the drawings is suitable and comprises an uppercross bar 21 and two foldable sectional side bars each of which consistsof two sections 25, 26 which are pivotally connected with each other attheir opposing ends while their opposite ends are connected respectivelywith the body of the carriageand the cross bar. As shown in the drawingsthe lower or inner section 25 of each side bar is pivoted to the innerside of an end section of the body adjacent to the rear side thereofwhile the upper end. of the upper section 26 is rigidly secured to thecross bar 2 L. ien unfolded the two sections of each side bar may beheld in this position by any suitable means, for instance, by means of alocking sleeve 27 slidably mounted on the upperside bar section andengaging over an upwardly projecting tail 28 on the lower side barsection, as shown in Fig. 7. lVhen the handle is unfolded and arrangedin its operative position the same projects upwardly from the bodyadjacent to the back and head rests and the same may be held in thisposition by a fastening device of any suitable construction, the meansfor this purpose shown in the drawings be ing suitable and consisting oftwo catches or latches 29 each of which is pivoted on the lower sectionof one of the handle side bars and adapted to engage over a pin orprojection 30 on the inner side of the adjacent end section of the body.lVhen it is desired to fold the handle the catches 29 and lockingsleeves 27 are released, thereby permitting the side bars to be foldedforwardly relatively to each other and the adjacentparts of thecarriage, so that the handle will be wholly arranged within the space ofthe body formed by the bottom, top, end and front and rear wallsthereof, as shown in Fig. 8.

The end sections of the body are preferably made hollow and in the upperpart of each of these sections is arranged a vertically sliding drawer31 the top of which is closed so as to form an arm rest while the innerside of this drawer is provided with an opening which is exposed whenthis drawer is lifted to permit various toilet articles to be placedwithin this drawer but which is closed by the adjacent inner wall ofthis end section when the drawer is pushed down and thereby conceals thecontents of this drawer.

Although various means may be provided for running this carriage on thefloor or ground those shown in the drawings comprise two frontsupporting wheels 32 and a rear steering wheel 33 which wheels are somount ed that they may be folded into hollow parts of the body of thecarriage when the same is to be folded into the form of a traveling bagor grip or the same may be unfolded so that they project downwardly fromthe upper side of the body and form a rolling support therefor. Thefront or supporting wheels are normally arranged below the front partsof the end pockets 34. formed by the lower parts of the spaces orcompartments in the end body sections which latter open clown.- wardlyand the rear steering wheel is normally arranged in a vertical positionbelow the central rear part of the bottom of the body and the centrallower pocket thereof. Each of the front wheels is pivoted at the loweror outer end of a leg or fork 35 which latter is pivoted at its upper orinner end to the body of the carriage within the lower front part of oneof the pockets 3%, so that this wheel can either be swung downwardlybelow the body into its normal operative position, as shown in Fig. 3,or can be swung upwardly into its respective pocket, as shown in F ig.2. The two supporting wheels are preferably operatively connected sothat they move in unison, the means for this purpose which are preferredand shown in the drawings comprising a horizontal rock shaft 36journaled transversely in the lower part of the body adjacent to thelower rear oorner thereof, two rock arms 37 secured at their rear endsto opposite ends of the rock shaft and arranged within the lower partsof the end pockets 3%, and two links 38 each of which connects the frontend of one of the rock arms with the free end of the adjacent fork whichpivotally supports one of the front wheels. Upon turning this rock shaftso that its rock arms move downwardly and forwardly the front forks aremoved downwardly into a vertical position so that the front wheelsproject below the body and in a position to form a rolling supporttherefor, but when the rock shaft is swung in the opposite direction itsarms cause the links to draw the front forks and the wheels mountedthereon upwardly into the end pockets, as shown in Fig. 2. While thefront wheels are in their normal operative position they are rigidlyheld in place and prevented from folding by a fastening device whichpreferably comprises two L- shaped latches or catches 39 pivoted on thelower part of the body and each provided with a laterally projectingnose 40 which is adapted to engage over the top of one of the rock armswhen the latter is in its horizontal operative position, as shown inFigs. 3, 7, 9 and 10, thereby preventing the adjacent front wheel frombeing raised. The two latches 39 are connected with opposite ends of acrank shaft 41 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the adjacentpart of the body and has its crank engaged by a spring 42 whichconstantly operates to turn this crank shaft in a direction which willkeep the latches in the path of the rock arms. Upon swinging the rockarms downwardly the same engage with inclined faces l3 on the noses ofthe latches and deflect the same forwardly but after the rock arms clearthese latches and assume their horizontal operative position the spring42 through the medium of the crank shaft swings the latches so thattheir noses engage over the upper sides or edges of the rock arms andthereby lock the same and the front wheels in their normal operativeposition. By thus providing the latches with the inclined faces &3 onthe noses thereof the latter do not present a square face to the arms 37and therefore ease the unfolding movement of said arms.

The rear or steering wheel is pivoted in the lower end of a steering legor fork 44 which latter is pivoted by means of an upright bolt 45 to abracket 46 projecting forwardly from the central part of the rock shaftso that the steering wheel can turn horizontally for directing thecourse of the carriage. The lower part of the steering fork or leg isbent or deflected rearwardly so that the steering wheel will alwaystrail from the vertical pivot which connects the steering fork with thebracket in the manner of a caster. The extent of horizontal rotation ofthe steering fork and wheel is preferably limited by means of a stop pin9L7 projecting rearwardly from the upper end of the fork into a notch orrecess 18 formed in the lower rear part of the body of the carriage, asshown in Fig. 7, thereby preventing the steering wheel from beingentirely reversed which otherwise would reduce the spread of the wheelbase on the ground or floor and render the carriage liable to tip overeasily.

The bracket 46 is preferably secured to the rock shaft so that uponfolding the front wheels into the end pockets of the body the steeringfork and wheel will also be folded into the central pocket formed in thelower part of the body underneath the seat. lVhile the steering fork andwheel are thus turned upwardly with the rock shaft the steering fork isalso turned about its steering pivot so that it lies flatwise or horizontally in the central pocket below the seat, as shown in Fig. 5, andduring this movement its stop pin i7 is disengaged from the stop notch48 of the body.

In order to hold the wheels in their folded position a fastening deviceis provided which preferably comprises a horizontally sliding bar 49mounted on the front part of the body within the central pocket byllltlllS of a pin and slot connection 50, as shown in Fig. 5 andprovided with two locking forks 51.. 52 either one of which may beengaged with the adjacent part of the steering wheel for holding thesame in a folded position. W hen the steering wheel is turned. into itspocket in one direction the same may be engaged by one of the lockingforks and upon turning the steering wheel into the opposite directioninto its pocket the same may be engaged by the other locking fork. It istherefore immaterial whether the operator folds the steering wheel intoits pocket in one or the other direction inasmuch as the same may belocked against unfolding by means of one or the other forks. lVhilelocking the steering wheel against unfolding this incidentally alsolocks the front supporting wheels in their folded position inasn'iuch asall of the wheels are mounted on the rock shaft.

In addition to the lock bar 49 the front wheels may be additionally heldsecurely within their pockets when folded by providing the forks of thefront wheels with laterally projecting locking pins 43 which are engagedby the noses -10 whereby the latches 39 hold the front wheels either intheir unfolded position by engaging the noses 4-0 over the arms 37, asshown in Figs. 3 and 10, and also in their folded position by engagingsaid noses with the undersides of the pins 4-3 on the forks 35, as shownin Figs. 2 and For the purpose of preventing a child from fallingforwardly out of the carriage a safety strap 53 of the kind usuallyemployed in carriages may be detachably connected with the inner wallsof the end body sections, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

It will be noted that this folding carriage is comparatively simple andinexpensive in construction considering the function which it isdesigned to perform and that the me is not only light but can also beoperated very easily and conveniently and aside from providing acarriage for a child when it is desired to so use the same it alsoprovides convenient receptacles in which may be carried the variousarticles or accessories for the nursery.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding childs carriage comprising a body having a lower section,an end section rising from opposite ends of the lower section, a legrest pivoted on the front end of the lower section between the endsections and having a foot rest, a back rest pivoted on the rear end. ofthe lower section, and m ans for holding said leg rest and back rest inplace comprising two collapsible bars each of which is adapted to reston said seat and is composed of two sections which have their opposingends slidably connected while their extremities are pivoted respectivelyto the back rest and the leg rest.

2. A folding childs carriage comprising a body having a lower section,end sections rising from opposite ends of the lower section, a leg restpivoted on the front end of the lower section between the end sectionsand having a foot rest, a back rest pivoted on the rear end of the lowersection, a head rest pivoted on the back rest and having a slot, and abrace pivoted on said back rest and having a pin engaging said slot.

3. A folding childs carriage comprising a body having a lower section,end sections rising from opposite ends of the lower section, a leg restpivoted on the front end of the lower section between the end sectionsand having a foot rest, a back rest pivoted on the rear end of the lowersection and a folding handle having a cross bar and two side bars eachof which is composed of two sections which have their opposing endspivotally connected and one of which is rigidly connected with the crossbar while the other is pivoted on the body.

4t. r1 folding childs carriage comprising a body having a lower section.end sect-ions rising from opposite ends of the lower section. a leg restpivoted on the front end of the lower section between the end sectionsand having a foot rest, a back rest pivoted on the rear end of the lowersection. a folding handle having a cross bar and two side bars each ofwhich is composed of two sections which have their opposing endspivotally connected and one of which is rigidly connected with the crossbar while the other is pivoted on the body, means for holding thesections of each bar in an unfolded position relatively to each other.and means for holding said bars in an unfolded position relatively tothe body.

5. A folding childs carriage comprising a body having a lower section,end sections rising from opposite ends of the lower section, a leg restpivoted on the front end of the lower section between the end sectionsand having a foot rest, a back restpivoted on the rear end of the lowersection, a folding handle having a cross bar and two side bars each ofwhich is composed of two sections which have their opposing endspivotally connected and one of which is rigidly connected with the crossbar while the other is pivoted on the body, means for holding thesections of each bar in an unfolded position relatively to each othercomprising a tail formed on one of said bar sections and a lockingsleeve sliding on the other section and engaging with said tail, andmeans for holding said bars in an unfolded position relatively to thebody comprising a latch pivoted on each of said bars and engaging with aprojection on the body.

6. A folding childs carriage comprising a hollow lower section which isprovided with an upper cover forming a seat, hollow end sectionsarranged at opposite ends of the lower section and forming arm rests,vertically sliding drawers arranged in said end sections, and back andleg rests pivoted on the bottom sect-ion.

7. A folding childs carriage comprising a body provided on the undersideof its ends with downwardly opening pockets, legs pivoted on the bodyand adapted to swing vertically into and out of said pockets, wheelsmounted on said legs, and means for causing said legs to turn togethercomprising a rock shaft journaled on the body, rock arms secured to saidshaft and arranged in said pockets, and links connecting said arms withsaid legs.

8. A folding childs carriage comprising a body provided on the undersideof its ends with downwardly opening pockets, legs pivoted on the bodyand adapted to swing vertically into and out of said pockets, wheelsmounted on said legs, and means for causing said legs to turn togethercomprising a rock shaft journaled on the body, rock arms secured to saidshaft and arranged in said pockets, links connecting said arms with saidlegs and means for holding said wheels in their operative positioncomprising latches each provided with a nose engaging over one of saidrock arms, a crank shaft journaled on the body and connected with saidlatches, and a spring which turns said crank shaft in a direction forengaging said latches with said rock arms.

9. A folding childs carriage comprising a body provided on the undersideof its ends with downwardly opening pockets, legs piv-' oted on the bodyand adapted to swing vertically into and out of said pockets, wheelsmounted on said legs, and means for causing said legs to turn togethercomprising a rock shaft journaled on the body, rock arms secured to saidshaft and arranged in said pockets, links connecting said arms with saidlegs, a bracket mounted on said shaft, a steering leg pivoted on saidbracket and a steering wheel pivoted on said last steering leg andadapted to be folded against the underside of the body.

10. A folding childs carriage comprising a body provided on theunderside of its ends with downwardly opening pockets, legs pivoted onthe body and adapted to swing vertically into and out of said pockets,wheels mounted on said legs, and means for causing said legs to turntogether comprising a rock shaft journaled on the body, rock armssecured to said shaft and arranged in said pockets, links connectingsaid arms with said legs, a bracket mounted on said shaft, a steeringleg pivoted on said bracket, a steering wheel pivoted on said laststeering leg and adapted to be folded against the underside of the bodyand a stop pin arranged on said steering leg and projecting into arecess in the body.

11. A folding childs carriage comprising a body provided on theunderside of its ends with downwardly opening pockets, legs pivoted onthe body and adapted to swing vertically into and out of said pockets,wheels mounted on said legs, and means for causing said legs to turntogether comprising a rock shaft j ournaled on the body, rock armssecured to said shaft and arranged in said pockets, links connectingsaid arms with said legs, a bracket mounted on said shaft, a steeringleg pivoted on said bracket, a steering wheel pivoted on said laststeering leg and adapted to be folded against the underside of the bodyand a catch arranged on the body and adapted to engage said steeringwheel for holding the same in an inoperative folded position.

l/Vitness my hand this 4th day of June, 1912.

ANDREWV T. l/VANNENlVETSCI-l.

Witnesses:

THEo. L. Porr, ANNA HEIGIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. O.

